High Schools in Ware County

Ware County High School is the sole high school in Ware County, serving grades 9–12 in Waycross, GA, with an enrollment of 1,633 students. This single-school district means the school’s data is identical to the district’s, and it serves a predominantly low-income population, with 84% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.

Ware County High School has shown remarkable improvement, jumping from 184th to 115th in the state rankings—a 69-position climb that moved it from a 3-star to a 4-star rating. The school now exceeds state averages in all released End of Course subjects: Algebra I proficiency rose 11 points to 58.7% (state: 48.1%), Biology rose 7.9 points to 53.5% (state: 47.2%), and U.S. History rose 10.3 points to 41.5% (state: 38.5%). English Language Arts scores have not yet been released for the current cycle, so no conclusions should be drawn from their absence. The graduation rate is exceptional at 95.4%, well above the state average of 87.2%, and the dropout rate of 1.6% is below the state’s 2.4%. These outcomes are particularly notable given the high poverty level, suggesting the school is effectively supporting its students.

The main concern is chronic absenteeism: 24.6% of students are chronically absent, compared to 17.7% statewide. This is a significant gap, especially since the school is already performing well academically despite this challenge—improving attendance could unlock even greater gains. U.S. History, while improved, remains the lowest-performing subject and may warrant extra attention. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1 and per-student spending of $13,956, the school has solid resources. Overall, Ware County High School is a high-poverty school with strong upward momentum, excellent graduation outcomes, and clear areas for continued growth.